Page 110 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

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by Emer Wright

Hi guys, old Fabrizio Pistone from Germany handling a
What very strange times these are! I’m sure that, like Bracco Italiano. While the Netherland’s 17-year-old
myself, at some point over the past few weeks you’ve representative, Melissa Van Oosten, handling an Irish
asked your parents do they remember anything like Setter was placed third under Mr Foss, commencing
this lockdown happening in their lives, and were the event which this year was yet another wonderful
surprised to hear that they don’t recall an event like competition, this time consisting of representatives
this before! I guess this could be compared to the from 37 different countries!
Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in 2001, with the For the second year in a row, Sarah Cushley from
major exception that Foot and Mouth posed no huge County Down in Northern Ireland represented Ireland
threat to humans! And while it is a scary thing to think in the event. Despite not being placed, Sarah did a
about, lets all make the most of the free time we get flawless job and we are incredibly proud of how she
to spend with our families and pets! I know when I
was in school, I would have loved nothing more than
to be given an unexpected 2 months off school to
spend with my dogs while the sun shone! I hope you
are all making the most of the situation and spending
lots of time training your dogs and practicing your
handling skills!

International Junior Handling Finals 2020
The last edition of K9 News was distributed at Crufts
2020, which in some ways seems like a lifetime ago!
But let us not forget the great success that was had
by some of our Irish Juniors, in both the YKC Ring
and their breed classes!
The highlight of the International Junior Handling
calendar is always the International Junior Handling
Final which takes place at Crufts. Mr Arne Foss from
Norway judged the event this year and found his
Winner in Sweden’s Selma Martensson, who is 18
years old and was handling a Black-Tri Australian
Shepherd. The Runner-Up spot went to 17-year-
Photo: Alan V Walker
110 - K9 NEWS DIGITAL